The program honored Dan Best II as Agribusiness Person of the Year, and featured Val Dolcini, State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency, as the guest speaker. Two Winters FFA students were also presented with scholarships.

Dolcini is responsible for all USDA farm programs and policies in California, and has been appointed to this position by two presidents - President Bill Clinton in 1999 and President Barack Obama in 2009. In 2011 he served as the acting administrator of the Farm Service Agency in Washington, D.C.

"I kind of feel like the kid returning to school after a long summer vacation. I'm sure you all remember the first assignment of the year? Writing an essay on what I did on my summer vacation. In my case, it's what I did during the government shutdown," Dolcini began. "Well, I certainly stayed busy. The garage has never been cleaner, the dog has never been walked more, and there's not a single blade of grass out of place in my yard. But at the end of the day, I'm certainly glad to be back at work."

Dolcini said that despite the shutdown, he has the "best job in California" and that his "office" is one of the "many thousands of farms in our great state."

"This county, this region, is really at the center of every leading innovation, every cutting-edge technological development, and every new and profound social change affecting agriculture in the world today," said Dolcini, a Yolo County native and fifth-generation Californian. "... My friends, this is an industry that is 100 percent homegrown and can proudly claim that its products, goods and services are absolutely 'Made in America.' We can all take great pride in the fact that here in Yolo County and throughout America. Agriculture truly grows America's economy."

He went on to recite some poignant numbers about the state and the importance of agriculture here.

California agriculture brought in $45 billion just last year and has led the nation in total production value for the last 50 years, he said.

Moreover, the state is responsible for growing more than 400 crops on nearly 90,000 farms and ranches, which accounts for over 25 million acres of farmland from Oregon to Mexico, he explained. About 90 percent of these farms are family farms.

"I like to tell people that I'm in the American Dream business and it's true," Dolcini said. "Just this week, we made our 100th USDA microloan. This innovative new program is designed to bring a new generation of farmers and ranchers into our food system and small loans of $35,000 or less have helped to build new businesses right here in Yolo County and all over the state of California.

"And this is just one small example of one government agency in one department that is focused on its customers, their business needs and on continuously improving the quality of the service it delivers to the citizens of this country. At USDA, we're in the business of helping people build their own version of the American Dream every day. And we're doing it one farm at a time."

Meanwhile, Best comes from a long line of agricultural innovators. His great-grandfather Daniel Best, and grandfather C.L. Best, created what would ultimately become Caterpillar Tractor Co. C.L. Best was named board chairman in 1925 and served in that role for 26 years.

"More so recently than earlier in my life I'm recognizing the contribution that my family played in ag and I'm very proud of that fact," Best previously said. "When I was younger it wasn't something the family talked about; it was played down.

"It wasn't until I met Ed and Sue Claessen from Minnesota who wrote the book 'Making Tracks: C.L. Best and the Caterpillar Tractor Co.,' ... that I realized how little I knew about my grandfather and great-grandfather. Then I started interviewing my father and he made me aware of my heritage."

Best graduated from Woodland High School in 1960 and attended Menlo College before going to work for his father, Dan Best I, at their ranch north of Woodland. He started farming on his own in 1976 and formed the Dan Best Ranch, Inc. Today, Best continues to take an active role in growing tomatoes, wheat, sunflowers, alfalfa, corn and almonds - and sees no retirement in sight.

"This is certainly an honor, a privilege. Totally unexpected," said Best on being Agribusiness Person of the Year, prior to Dolcini's speech. "When Twyla (Thompson) called me and said you've been nominated, will you accept the nomination, my head was spinning. I never even thought of something like that. And then ... yes!"

Best thanked his workers, some of whom have been with him for decades.

"Someone once said you're only as good as those around you, and believe me I wouldn't be standing up here today without these people," he said.